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Bonds, Giants go for series win against Nationals

Aug 9, 2007 - 2:05 PM Washington (52-62) at San Francisco (49-63) 3:35 pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Barry Bonds passed Hank Aaron for the career home run mark on Tuesday. A day later, he put some distance between himself and the Hall of Fame slugger.

Bonds will look to continue his power surge when the San Francisco Giants close out a four-game series with the Washington Nationals on Thursday.

Bonds, who hit career home run No. 757 in the first inning of Wednesday's 5-0 win, will likely be reduced to a pinch-hitting role on Thursday due to the fact that San Francisco will be playing a day game after a night game.

The Nationals will likely be without their strongest hitter as well, as All-Star Dimitri Young was forced to leave Wednesday's game in the second inning after straining his left hamstring running out a ground ball.

The Giants will send Patrick Misch (0-1, 4.38 ERA) to the mound for his second career start. The 25-year-old lefthander did not figure in his first start despite allowing two runs and three hits in five innings of a 3-2 loss at the San Diego Padres on Saturday.

Washington will counter with its own rookie starter, John Hanrahan (1-0, 3.27). The 25-year-old righthander earned his first major league win on Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals, surrendering one run and six hits in five innings.